Ridgefield to test Newtown in Class LL first round

Updated 12:28 am, Tuesday, December 3, 2013

All season the Newtown football team has looked an opponent in the eye and met every challenge on its way to a 12-0 record and a successful defense of the SWC title.

Whether it's been senior quarterback Andrew Tarantino throwing a perfect touchdown pass or senior running back Cooper Gold tearing into the open field for another scoring run, Newtown has found numerous ways to come out on top.

The Nighthawks don't expect to do anything different now when it comes to their quest for a Class LL state title, which begins Tuesday night at 6:30 at home against Ridgefield.

The Tigers (9-2) come into the game having won four straight since a tough 19-14 FCIAC setback to a one-loss Darien team and know it won't be easy doing what no other team has been able to accomplish against Newtown.

"There's a reason why they are perfect," 14th-year Ridgefield coach Kevin Callahan said. "They are playing with a lot of emotion. They have a program with a lot of pride and emotion and it shows. They also have a lot of playmakers."

It seems as if no one has made more big plays lately than Gold. The 6-foot, 210-pound back can do it all and has certainly carried the load in the Nighthawks' last two wins.

In the SWC final against Brookfield, Gold rushed 27 times for 165 yards and two touchdowns to earn MVP honors in Newtown's 28-7 victory. He also caught one pass for 27 yards.

Gold followed it up in the annual showdown with rival Masuk by rushing for 256 yards and five touchdowns on 24 carries in a 42-7 win.

On a night with sloppy, rainy conditions, Gold was the same dynamic weapon gashing the Panthers' defense.

"The numbers don't mean anything to me," Gold said. "All that matters is that we are winning. It's been a lot of fun. It's easy to run the ball when the line is blocking the way it has been. Last year, we let down going into the state tournament."

Newtown lost to NFA 63-21 in the first round of last year's Class LL tournament, but comes into this year's playoff with an even more diverse attack.

"They are a dual-threat team," Callahan said. "They have a 1 and a 1A that can dominate. They have shown that they can run or throw the ball well."

Gold has proven his durability by rushing for 1,564 yards and 17 touchdowns on 209 carries.

"We have always thought we could rely on him," Newtown coach Steve George said. "With the weather being an issue for Thanksgiving and it getting cold, it helps to be able to run well. Cooper is seeing the defenses a little better and it has been showing."

One of the key matchups will be between Ridgefield strong safety Andrew Chuma and Gold. A senior captain, Chuma leads the team with 67 tackles and has been a wrecking ball for FCIAC offenses all season.

"We give him the challenge of taking away a team's best plays," Callahan said of Chuma. "He takes them on aggressively and blows it up. He's been making plays against the run and pass. He doesn't get caught in between."

Chuma also may help out on Newtown receiver Julian Dunn, who at 6-foot-2, 210 pounds, has caught 43 passes for 953 yards and 21 touchdowns. Dunn has been the go-to guy for Tarantino.

"All of our players on offense complement each other," Gold said. "There's never a moment when we think we can't make a play, whether it's Julian, Andrew or anybody else."

Another option that Ridgefield will go to is putting cornerback Mauro Aidan on Dunn.

"Hopefully, we can keep them on their toes and confuse them a little bit," Callahan said. "They can make a lot of big plays."

The Ridgefield defense will get a big boost if defensive end Patrick Weston (six sacks) and the defensive line can stand its ground against a big offensive line to free up the linebackers to make the tackles.

The Tigers are not without their own offensive weapons. Senior running back Will Bonaparte has been the workhorse that powers the Tigers behind a solid offensive line.

"He's the driving force for us," Callahan said of Bonaparte. "He's elusive, but can also lower his shoulder and go through people. His first step and initial acceleration is what separates him. He's fun to watch. He does a lot of the same things Gold does for Newtown."

Bonaparte has rushed for 1,232 yards and 14 touchdowns this season. He set the team's single-game rushing mark with 304 yards against rival Danbury last Wednesday night at Tiger Hollow.

The Tigers can also mix it up with junior quarterback Ryan Dunn throwing for 1,830 yards and 24 touchdowns. Dunn's favorite targets are Erik Weber (38-415, 6 TDs) and Chuma (47-590, 7 TDs).

"They have really good receivers that make plays and a very good running back," Gold said. "They are a similar team to us."

Ridgefield's last state title came in 2002 when it beat Windsor in the Class L final, while Newtown was last on top in 1992 when it beat Windham for the Class MM title.

"I don't feel we have accomplished anything yet," Gold said. "We did the offseason work, the regular season, won the SWC and now it's the fourth quarter. Hopefully, we can show what we can do on Tuesday."